CHAPTER 10

Uchiha Clan

Inside Renn's House

Kurenai Yuhi slowly woke up.

Almost immediately, she sensed something was off and struggled to turn over. Her gaze met a pair of eyes.

Blushing furiously, she quickly pulled the quilt over herself. It took her a long moment to calm down before she dared to peek out.

"Naruko-san… Did Lord Renn eat something strange last night…?"

It wasn't unreasonable for Kurenai to think so.

After all, Renn was too inhuman.

Perhaps she had unknowingly triggered some hidden switch in his personality, causing him to completely lose control. The battle last night had been utterly one-sided, leaving her no room to resist.

"He's always like that. You'll get used to it," Kushina said, rolling her eyes as if she was looking at someone inexperienced. She clearly couldn't be bothered to explain further.

However, the difference in strength was simply too vast. She herself had been dragged into the fray, but Kurenai chose not to comment on it.

"Awake?"

At that moment, Renn's figure appeared at the door.

Having spent a considerable amount of money appeasing Hiruzen Sarutobi—along with issuing a warning to the old man—Renn was in an excellent mood after his morning patrol.

Thinking back to the events of last night, he had taken it upon himself to prepare lunch.

Despite knowing he was somewhat of a scoundrel, he still treated his women well. He wouldn't simply disregard them after everything that happened.

A normal approach.

After all, he had a harem to build.

At the dining table, Kurenai sampled the meal and remarked in surprise, "I didn't expect Lord Renn to be good at cooking."

"Enjoy it while you can. This guy doesn't cook often," Kushina said while eating, a rare hint of sentiment in her voice.

Although technically a maid, she was allowed to dine with them when Renn permitted it.

"Naruko-san, you're a good cook too, right?" Kurenai asked curiously.

She had long since come to terms with the fact that Uchiha Naruko—who was, in reality, Uzumaki Kushina—was Renn's maid.

After all, Kurenai understood that if she relied solely on herself, she would never be able to defeat Renn. Facing a common opponent had unexpectedly improved their relationship.

"Of course! The dishes I make are delicious. I'll cook for you another day," Kushina declared proudly.

Renn's expression twitched.

Are you trying to kill someone?

If Kushina's cooking wasn't so horrendous, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of hiring a private chef.

Back when he first brought Kushina home, he had foolishly tasted her cooking. Even with his enhanced physique, his stomach physically hurt afterward.

Honestly, he suspected Minato Namikaze had trained himself to eat Kushina's food at high speed just to get it over with. How had he survived all these years?

Renn had only one thought: Respect.

Nevertheless, the meal itself was quite pleasant.

Konoha – Central Residential Area

At the entrance of a house, Yuhi Shinku (Kurenai's father) looked at his daughter—who stood before him with a flushed face—and at the Uchiha man supporting her.

Just from her embarrassed expression, he could already guess what had transpired.

After all, Kurenai was not one to stay out overnight—at least, not under normal circumstances. The only times she had done so were when visiting her best friend, Anko Mitarashi.

But this situation was obviously different.

"Dad… I sprained my ankle," Kurenai said shyly, her voice soft but honest.

…Did she really think he'd believe that?

Yuhi Shinku fell silent, letting out a deep sigh. He wasn't sure what to feel.

"Go inside. I need to have a word with Renn."

A father's sorrow—his daughter was now a grown woman.

As Kurenai walked unsteadily to her room, the two men were left alone in the living room.

Renn, completely unfazed, pulled out two small sake gourds.

"I brewed this myself. Care for a drink, Uncle?"

With a casual air, he placed one in front of Yuhi Shinku before opening the other and taking a sip.

He is a self-disciplined captain of the Konoha Military Police Force.

It was highly unusual to skip duty during work hours and visit his father-in-law's house for a drink. Yet, here he was.

The aroma of sake lingered in the air.

Renn's eyes remained sharp and unwavering—lacking the dazed foolishness of a habitual drunkard. His arrival with Yuhi Shinku was already a statement in itself.

Since he had already indulged in the hospitality, it was time to address the elephant in the room.

"Renn."

Yuhi picked up the sake gourd with a solemn expression and spoke softly.

"Honestly, putting aside everything else, I don't have a bad impression of you."

"But as a father, I don't want you involved with Hong."

"Do you know why?"

Yuhi Shinku sighed, his throat tight with emotion. His words were sincere.

Renn understood the reason.

It all traced back to the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha.

In the original events, Yuhi Shinku had ordered Kakashi and Kurenai to remain away from the battlefield, while he himself had joined the fight against the rampaging Nine-Tails. Tragically, he had lost his life that night.

But this time, Renn had intervened.

On his way to confront the Nine-Tails, he had saved Yuhi Shinku from certain death. In other words, he was his lifesaver.

Because of that, Shinku had held his tongue regarding Renn's relationship with his daughter, Yuhi Kurenai.

Yet, as a high-ranking official of Konoha and the acting Anbu Commander, Shinku knew precisely the volatile situation between the village and the Uchiha Clan.

Renn's position was precarious. As the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force—an Uchiha-led organization—his every move was scrutinized.

If there was no tension between the village and Uchiha, Shinku wouldn't have interfered in his daughter's relationship.

But in this situation?

As a father, he could not stand by and watch his daughter become entangled in a political storm that would inevitably lead to disaster.

The Uchiha Clan… a single family, challenging an entire village.

No matter how strong they were, the outcome was inevitable.

Would it truly be wise for his daughter to walk this path?

Yet, it was already too late. The bond between Renn and Kurenai was set in stone.

So, he needed to have an honest conversation with Renn.

The situation was clear. Renn had taken direct action against Konoha's power structure just yesterday, and now, today, he stood before the Anbu Commander in his own home.

Anyone who saw this would immediately assume an alliance had been forged.

But what could Shinku do?

If the Uchiha revolted, he had no real power to stop it.

Regardless of the battle's outcome, Konoha would suffer greatly.

And even if he wanted to intervene, he had no authority. Despite being Anbu Commander, real power rested solely with the Third Hokage.

Shinku was merely a figurehead.

"Uncle, you should know—I don't like to beat around the bush."

Renn took another sip of sake, then stood up, his expression unreadable.

"I'll be direct."

"Whatever happens at the top with the Uchiha, it's their concern. They can fight their battles as they wish."

"But no one dictates my actions."

"As long as I abide by the Guard's regulations, I will do as I please."

"But if anyone crosses the line—" Renn's voice grew colder, his hand tightening around the sake gourd before it vanished in a flicker of motion.

"I won't be merciful."

Then, his tone shifted.

"As for whether I can protect Kurenai?"

"Just wait and see."

BOOM!

An invisible force surged into the air, a suffocating pressure engulfing the room.

It lasted for a heartbeat.

Or perhaps, an eternity.

And then—silence.

The oppressive aura vanished, leaving behind an eerie stillness.

Yuhi Shinku's breath caught in his throat.

His horror was beyond words.

What had he just witnessed?

Even he could not describe it.

For an instant, he saw destruction itself—a vision of devastation beyond comprehension.

Such overwhelming power…

Uchiha Renn…

He had concealed his strength far too well.

What was his true goal?

With such terrifying ability, if Renn wished to overturn the entire village, it would be effortless.

Yuhi Shinku felt his hands tremble.

For the first time, he truly feared the unknown force standing before him.